I accept that Gnu is making a point that we are all human and my post above is trying to say that too.

But Rooney was right to have been sent off and by the team then dropping to ten men and our most inspirational player not being available for the next game, he has let the team down. As I said, it was a risk playing him and you win some lose some. All this Rooney bashing serves to do nothing but increase the risk of football fans being denied his unquestionable talent. He has the money now to say "Fuck this for a lark." I suppose it is his sense of wanting to play football anyway that prevents that, and the game should be grateful. He is one of the few who will be spoken of to Grandchildren fifty years hence. Oh, and fans of all sides expect a bit of niggle. That's why the game has a referee, two linesmen and an assistant referee. If players didn't wind each other up, we wouldn't need them.

Mind you Gnu, we have enough confusion with linesmen being called assistant referees by telly commentators. Side judges is a new one on me, but not an issue, as I know what you mean. The physically unfit blokes with flags who seemed to be five yards behind play all night and couldn't pick up an offside if it asked them to buy it a drink in a night club.